Mentalizing Connections: Attachment and Reflective Function
Presented by:
Director of Education, Silver Hill Hospital
Professor, University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry
Adjunct Professor, Yale Department of Psychiatry
Description:
This presentation explores the intersection of attachment theory and mentalization, focusing on how early attachment experiences shape an individual’s capacity for mentalizing—i.e., understanding and interpreting one’s own and others’ mental states. Drawing on the work of Bowlby, Ainsworth, and more recent contributions in developmental and clinical psychology, the talk highlights how secure attachment fosters effective mentalization, while insecure attachment styles (e.g., anxious, avoidant) can hinder this ability, potentially leading to difficulties in social relationships and emotional regulation. By examining the neurobiological, cognitive, and relational aspects of attachment and mentalization, the presentation underscores the importance of these concepts in therapeutic contexts, offering insights into how clinicians can enhance mentalizing abilities in individuals with attachment-related challenges.
Learning Objective:
- Describe the history of attachment theory and its relationship to reflective functioning.
- Identify the relationship between attachment theory and mentalization, highlighting how early attachment experiences influence an individual’s ability to understand and interpret their own and others’ mental states.
- Practice a skill aimed at developing an experience of curiosity.
About the Series:
Join your peers for a six-part webinar series, presented by Ellenhorn and the Mentalizing Initiative, featuring speakers from Ellenhorn, the Mentalizing Initiative, Silver Hill Hospital, and Lindner Center of Hope.
This three-month series will feature thought leaders and mentalization-based treatment (MBT) experts from esteemed organizations, providing a comprehensive exploration of MBT. Explore how MBT goes beyond skill-based approaches like DBT by fostering reflective capacities and promoting lasting self-awareness and relational stability. Led by thought leaders and experts from esteemed organizations, each session will illuminate how mentalization can be applied across therapy, leadership, and education to strengthen connections with self and others.
Why Attend?
-Earn CE Credits: Gain 1.0 CE credit per one-hour session, with a total of 6.0 credits available for attending all six webinars. CE Credits for the Mentalizing Connections series are being offered by Ellenhorn. (Silver Hill Hospital is not managing CE Credits or Certificates.)
-Learn from Experts: Hear from leaders in the globally practiced and empirically supported field of MBT.
-Enhance Your Practice: Learn how to integrate mentalization principles into your clinical work to foster deeper, more meaningful client outcomes.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join your peers in advancing mentalization-based approaches.
Participants will earn 1.0 CE credits for each one-hour session with a potential total of 6.0 CEs awarded upon successful completion of all six sessions.
All sessions will take place on Zoom from 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Full Presentation Schedule:
- Wednesday, February 12: Introductory Session – All Presenters
- Wednesday, February 26: Attachment and Reflective Function – Jeffrey Katzman, MD
- Wednesday, March 12: Engaging Deeply: How Mentalizing Facilitates Trust & Openness in Therapy Relationships – Michael Groat, PhD, MSc
- Wednesday, March 26: BPD: The Origin of MBT – Robin Kissell, MD
- Wednesday, April 9: IRL (In Real Life): Mentalizing with Teens in Mind – Natalie Brooks, MA, LMFT
- Wednesday, April 23: The Therapist in the Hot Seat: Countertransference and Using Mentalization to Cool Down – Shelly Simpson, LCSW
Series Presenters:
Clinical Director and Director of AMBIT, Ellenhorn, LLC
Executive Board Member, Mentalizing Initiative
Interim CEO and Chief Clinical Officer
Lindner Center of Hope
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Director of The Mentalizing Initiative
Director of Education, Silver Hill Hospital
Professor, University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry
Adjunct Professor, Yale Department of Psychiatry